Colloidal Silver

Ive been asked several times recently about Colloidal Silver; what it is, how it works, what you can use it for etc. It is gaining quite a bit of a reputation and, due to the enormous list of uses, illnesses, bacteria etc that it is reputed to help, this topic deserves a section all to itself. Many people prefer to avoid administering chemicals to their dogs these days (not to mention to themselves and their families too) and this is just one treatment method which is gathering speed in its popularity.

I am not, by any means, an expert on Colloidal Silver and do not promote or disuade anyone from its usage. Having done a fair bit of studying of late, as fabulous as it is reported to be, there are down-sides too and, in actual fact, much scientific research is still on going into possible side effects, good and bad of Colloidal Silver, so I would honestly suggest anybody who is looking at using it should do their own searches and make sure you are as well informed as you can be.

So rather than “re-inventing the wheel” I sought out an artical which I found to be a really good overview and might just answer a few questions for you. If after reading it you are as intrigued as I am, you will at least have made a start into your own research.

The following artical is by Danny Veracity, and comes from NaturalNews.com:-

Colloidal silver, a liquid suspension of the metal silver, is currently a hot topic in the world of medicine. While alternative medicine praises its use as an antibiotic, mainstream medicine considers it somewhat of a poison. But colloidal silver is neither a poison nor a panacea: It is a safe and proven topical antibiotic that may cautiously be used internally.

In the nineteenth century, colloidal silver — also known as Argentum colloidale, Argentum crede and collargolum — was a prominent treatment for everything from colds to skin infections. In the 1940s, the FDA began its decades-long oppression of medicinal silver under the guise that it was unsafe; however, in reality, the FDA banned silver because of the threat it poses to the antibiotics industry, rather than any threat it poses for your body. If you’d like to learn more about the FDA’s campaign against silver, be sure to download the Health Ranger’s Commentary on Curad bandages made with silver. In his commentary, he not only praises Curad’s new bandages, but also details how astounding their FDA approval is, given the FDA’s historical campaign against the medicinal use of silver.

As you can see from Curad’s new bandages, colloidal silver is a safe and effective topical method to fight infections. As Phyllis A. Balch and Dr. James F. Balch write in Prescription for Nutritional Healing, colloidal silver can safely and inexpensively protect you from infection in a wide variety of ways: “Topically, it can be used to fight fungal infections of the skin or nails and to promote the healing of burns, wounds, cuts, rashes, and sunburn. It can be used on toothaches and mouth sores, as eye drops and as a gargle to fight tooth decay and bad breath. It can also be used as sterilizer and can even be sprayed on air-conditioning filters and air ducts and vents to prevent germs from growing.” In addition to those found in air conditioning vents, germs make many other aspects of our environment both unhealthy and bad-smelling. Colloidal silver, as a powerful antibiotic and antifungal agent, can make your environment just as healthy as it can make your body.

According to Joseph B. Marion’s Anti-Aging Manual, Pierce Instruments manufactures a nylon-Silver fabric called Silvelon. They use Silvelon to make everything from odor-proof socks and shoe liners to antiseptic kitchen sponges. Of course, you can also make your own odor-proof socks by soaking regular socks in colloidal silver solution, but the choice is yours.

According to many sources, it is not dangerous to use colloidal silver internally, as long as you take it in the recommended, reasonable dosages. This means using the colloidal silver product as directed and not taking it for more than two weeks at a time, according to Janet Zand in Smart Medicine for Healthier Living. Of course, you shouldn’t use just any colloidal product out there, either. In his A-List of Top Products, the Health Ranger recommends Silver 100 as the top colloidal silver product. It’s safe – very safe – at only 100 silver parts per million.

“Taken internally, colloidal silver can be used to fight infection. It has been shown to be effective against more that 650 disease-causing organisms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans,” writes Dr. James F. and Phyllis A. Balch. As you may remember from the hamburger scares of the 1990s, E. coli infections can be deadly, especially among young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In this sense, colloidal silver is a lifesaver: When all else fails, it can beat infections presumed unbeatable. It is under these extreme conditions that patients may justifiably consider using colloidal silver internally — but only under the direction of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopath.

AIDS-related pneumonia due to staphylococcal, pneumocystis, streptococcal, klebsiella and fungal infections may also warrant internal use of colloidal silver. These types of pneumonia are very difficult to fight with traditional antibiotic treatment; moreover, people with weakened immune systems, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, are especially prone to them. For a weak immune system, these types of pneumonia are sometimes unbeatable, making alternative measures a necessity. “Dr. Marchial-Vega had considerable clinical experience with a colloidal silver preparation that contains between 20 and 25 parts of silver per million parts of water. This preparation has proven effective in patients with HIV… In the hospital, the therapy is administered by a special nebulizer as well as orally,” reports Dr. James Howenstine in A Physician’s Guide to Natural Healing Products that Work.

You don’t have to be afraid of genuine colloidal silver. There are a multitude of safe and effective colloidal silver products on the market, so be sure to research what you use before you use it and, by all means, use it as recommended on the label. As a side note, some colloidal silver companies claim that colloidal silver is an anti-cancer agent. According to Dan Labriola’s Complementary Cancer Therapies, “There is no reliable human evidence that this (colloidal silver) is an effective cancer treatment.” But as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, colloidal silver is well proven.

The experts speak on colloidal silver:

Just as it sounds, colloidal silver is a liquid suspension of the metal silver. It is marketed by a number of companies for a variety of uses, including as an antibiotic and anticancer agent. There is no reliable human evidence that this is an effective cancer treatment.Complementary Cancer Therapies by Dan Labriola ND, page 190

Colloidal silver is an inexpensive healing agent and disinfectant that has a myriad of applications. It is a clear golden liquid composed of 99.9-percent pure silver particles approximately 0.001 to 0.01 microns in diameter that are suspended in pure water. Colloidal silver can be mixed with either tap or distilled water and applied topically, taken by mouth, or administered intravenously.Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and James F Balch MD, page 66

Historical use of silver in medicine

Silver is highly toxic to most microbial cells and can be used as an antimicrobial agent. Silver-containing compounds, such as silver sulfadiazine, which has broad antimicrobial as well as antifungal activity, and silver nitrate, are used in medicine as topical agents. Colloidal silver is a suspension of extremely small silver particles and was used in medicine until the 1940s as both a topical and an internal antiseptic. Colloidal silver was also known as argentum colloidale, argentum crede and collargolum.PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 110

Colloidal silver has a long history in medicine as a natural antibiotic. It is very effective in killing bacteria, viruses,The Natural Way to Heal by Walter Last, page 161

Colloidal silver is a safe and effective topical method to fight infections

Topically, it can be used to fight fungal infections of the skin or nails and to promote the healing of burns, wounds, cuts, rashes, and sunburn. It can be used on toothaches and mouth sores, as eye drops, and as a gargle to fight tooth decay and bad breath. It can also be used as sterilizer and can even be sprayed on air-conditioning filters and air ducts and vents to prevent germs from growing.Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and James F Balch MD, page 66

To treat ringworm, use a sterile pad and apply colloidal silver to the affected area. Hands and feet can also be soaked in this solution, a natural antibiotic that destroys some 650 different microorganisms.Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and James F Balch MD, page 388

It is not dangerous to use colloidal silver internally, as long as you take it in the recommended, reasonable dosages.

Colloidal silver is considered to have antibacterial properties. Take it as directed on the product label. Do not take this supplement for more than two weeks at a time. Smart Medicine For Healthier Living by Janet Zand LAc OMD Allan N Spreen MD CNC James B LaValle RPh ND, page 566

Because colloidal silver loses its potency over time, the best bet is also a kit that permits mixing the solution and using it immediately. You should then discard any excess you can not use. Whenever you use it, keep in mind the fact that the silver will be accumulating in your body. Once you get too much silver in your system, you’re stuck with it for life. Avoid getting yourself into this predicament by using colloidal silver only when other methods of killing bacteria are not available.Attaining Medical Self Efficiency An Informed Citizens Guide by Duncan Long, page 200

Colloidal silver. Dose: Internally—60 to 120 drops three to four times daily. Externally, applied to a wound or burn—two to three times daily.Herbal Medicine Healing Cancer by Donald R Yance Jr, page 314

Colloidal silver is commercially available with a common solution strength of five silver atoms per million molecules of water, or 5 ppm, but it may be up to 50 ppm in very concentrated remedies. However, the size of the colloids may be more important than the strength in parts per million.The Natural Way to Heal by Walter Last, page 162

Just don’t use any colloidal silver product out there

It is difficult to assess which of the many commercial remedies available work best or even which ones work and which do not. Therefore I recommend building your own colloidal silver generator.The Natural Way to Heal by Walter Last, page 162

Micronic Silver from Lifestar Millennium is a good source of colloidal silver. Cold Combat! from TriMedica, Inc. is a combination of sublingual forms of colloidal silver, colloidal copper, zinc, and the homeopathic remedies Cinnabaris and Rhus toxicodendron. It is good for fighting colds and flu.Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and James F Balch MD, page 66

Taken internally, colloidal silver can be used to fight infection. It has been shown to be effective against more that 650 disease-causing organisms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans.Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and James F Balch MD, page 66

Dr. Marchial-Vega has had considerable clinical experience with a colloidal silver preparation that contains between 20 and 25 parts of silver per million parts of water. This preparation has proven effective in patients with HIV in quickly resolving pneumonias due to pneumocystis, streptococcal, staphylococcal, klebsiella and fungal infections. In the hospital, the therapy is administered by a special nebulizer as well as orally.A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work By James Howenstine MD, page 262

In contrast to medical antibiotics that can be used only against specific microbes, colloidal silver has a wide range of effectiveness, eliminating bacteria as well as viruses and fungi. Unlike medical antibiotics, colloidal silver is not known to cause undesirable side effects. Colloidal zinc can be especially effective against viruses. The colloids of copper and gold, on the other hand, are strong anti-inflammatory agents; in addition, copper and zinc can be used chelated (bound) with salicylic acid for similar benefits.The Natural Way to Heal by Walter Last, page 161

Use with informed caution

I’m not suggesting that colloidal silver should be avoided altogether. I think it is ideal for some purposes and might be of use in an emergency or for last-ditch treatment of a bacteria that has grown resistent to antibiotics. However the use of this medication must be approached very cautiously.Attaining Medical Self Efficiency An Informed Citizens Guide by Duncan Long, page 200

These maximum doses are large compared to the doses ingested with health food colloidal silver supplements. However it should be remembered that these are most likely the totals for an entire lifetime, given the slow rate that silver is removed from the body For this reason I tend to see colloidal silver as an “emergency only” medication, rather than the “once a day” use some alternative medicine people are now suggesting.Attaining Medical Self Efficiency An Informed Citizens Guide by Duncan Long, page 180

Colloidal silver’s possible additional uses

This liquefied form of silver is a powerful natural antibiotic that can help knock out an acute sinus infection, says John M. Sullivan, M.D., a physician in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Buy a bottle of colloidal silver, put some full-strength into a spray bottle, and use one or two squirts into your nose twice a day until the infection has been noticeably gone for 3 days.Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 553

Robert C. Beck’s battery-powered electromagnetic electrode transfer of 50-100 microamperes by arm or foot electrodes may inhibit HI V outer protein’s ability to bind to Lymphocyte receptor sites 50-95%, and neutralize 95-100% of pathogens in blood, lymph, and tissues in 37 days. Start with half-hour on day 1, to 2 hours on days 7 through 3 0, tapering off to 15 minutes on day 3 7; taking Ozone water, colloidal silver, activated Charcoal, and hot/cold Water showers to break-down and eliminate toxins.Anti-Aging Manual by Joseph B Marion, page 548

Combination Remedy for Colds and Sore Throats: One teaspoon of bee propolis in a homeopathic solution is combined with extracts of red clover and licorice root. Ten drops of colloidal silver are added. Gargling with this formula and then swallowing it, every four hours, can help knock out local bacterial and viral infections in the throat and trachea.Complete Encyclopedia Of Natural Healing by Gary Null PhD, page 127

Other vitamins that have been proven to help increase fertility in women are: iron (35 mg); folk acid (one mg three times daily), to help normalize blood chemistry; vitamin B12, to help normalize reproductive function; colloidal silver, to help cleanse the system when chlamydia is causing infertility; and bioflavonoids (found in broccoli, green peppers, parsley, and citrus fruits), to help develop a healthy uterine lining.Complete Encyclopedia Of Natural Healing by Gary Null PhD, page 241

Vitamin and mineral intake can make a difference. Specific recommendations for men are zinc, selenium, and vitamins E, D, and C. Particular suggestions for women include vitamins C, B6, and B12, in addition to iron, folic acid, colloidal silver, and bioflavonoids. CompleteEncyclopedia Of Natural Healing by Gary Null PhD, page 243

I also take [supplements]. I eat organic vegetarian foods. I took ozone a few times. I had the silver removed from my teeth. I took colloidal silver, which helped my pneumonia tremendously.Complete Encyclopedia Of Natural Healing by Gary Null PhD, page 465

Treat the infection: Your physician can prescribe an appropriate antibiotic to treat the underlying infection. If you are working with a physician who specializes in natural therapies, he or she may suggest the use of colloidal silver, golden seal and/or grapefruit seed extract.Digestive Wellness By Elizabeth Lipski MS CCN, page 274

Small bowel infections, esophageal Candida and other infections are likely to reoccur. No specific research has been done to show that use of supplementation with flora and other natural therapies can help with reoccurrence, but they do help to boost the immune system. You may be able to keep the infection at bay with use of colloidal silver, grapefruit seed extract or garlic capsules. Each of these substances has wide antimicrobial properties, low toxicity and a low incidence of negative side effects.Digestive Wellness By Elizabeth Lipski MS CCN, page 313

Eliminate parasites, Candida, and other microbes by using an herbal parasite cure based on wormwood and investigate using colloidal silver, oxygen therapy, and an electronic zapper.Disease Prevention And Treatment by Life Extension Foundation, page 1104

When chlamydia is causing infertility, colloidal silver helps to clean up the system.Get Healthy Now by Gary Null, page 715

Rashes, including blistering types, are frequently due to what we put on our skin. One cause is soap because it may contain an artificial chemical that produces an adverse reaction. If you have a rash problem, it is advisable to use the type of soap that is 100 percent natural, or at least one that is unscented. A rash can be cleaned with a mixture composed primarily of aloe vera, along with colloidal silver, bee propolis, pau d’arco, and purified water. Then, wrap the area with gauze that is kept somewhat moist, so the mixture remains on the rash. After four or five hours, the rash should begin to heal.Power Aging by Gary Null, page 307

Persistent bowel problems have been correlated with recurrent UTIs. Our bodies eliminate wastes in several ways, including the excretion of feces by the bowels, the expulsion of carbon dioxide by the lungs, perspiration by the skin, and the discharge of urine by the kidneys and bladder. If any of these processes is malfunctioning, an excessive burden is placed upon the other systems. I do not believe that antibiotics are the proper treatment for UTIs because they do not get to the underlying cause. The proper approach is to rebalance the system by switching from an acidic diet to an alkaline one. Unsweetened cranberry juice with cherries and raspberries, four to five times a day, can ameliorate the severe pain. Pomegranate juice, two times a day, and grapefruit juice with the seeds and the skins are valuable too. Lemon, lime, and bee propolis with 10 drops of colloidal silver are also helpful. Because of the vitamin C content, these juices will create acidic urine (but not acid in the body), which creates an unfavorable environment for bacteria in the urine and bladder. Chlorophyll from spirulina is exceptionally good for the body as well.Power Aging by Gary Null, page 365

Now a great remedy is available for itchy eyes tat works like pure magic every time. It’s colloidal silver drops. Just two drops in each eye can stop itching for a week or more.Proven Health Tips Encyclopedia By American Medical Publishing, page 197

Colloidal silver, which can be found in any health food store, is a powerful antibiotic. It can cure conjunctivitis, or pink eye, as well as simple eye irritation.Proven Health Tips Encyclopedia By American Medical Publishing, page 197

However, if you store drinking water for a longer time, you can add some colloidal silver or hydrogen peroxide to keep it free of molds and other microbes or possibly put a piece of clean copper or a silver coin at the bottom of the container.The Natural Way to Heal by Walter Last, page 40

At the beginning of your health improvement efforts and several times each year, you can take a remedial course of colloidal silver for several weeks to keep down any undesirable microbes that have arisen in your body. Have a sip or tablespoonful three times daily. Preferably, store colloidal silver in a dark glass bottle in a dark and cool place.The Natural Way to Heal by Walter Last, page 162